Cowboy Builder?

Marple

Hello - advice needed please. Renting from private landlord and the house has had some renovation work carried out. We have asked to look at the electrical safety certificate which the landlord will not provide. The electrics were 're-earthed' and there are 2 points in the kitchen and a bedroom where the electrical wiring chased into the wall has not been covered with plaster. It looks as if hardboard has been used to cover and then they have wallpapered over. Is this safe? Landlord says work carried out by qualified electrician and builder. Is it worth contacting council building regs department? This was pointed out to an environmental health officer visit who didn't seem interested.

keystone

Landlods do not have to have electrical safetry certificates if you are looking for something akin to the gas safety certificate he IS obliged to have. It is his obligation to provide you with a safe and habitable rental. If your relationship with him is such that you distrust him that much to go running to the council (which won't endear you to him for one second) then perhaps you had better start looking for somewhere else to rent. EHO won't be interested because its not their concern.

Confrontation is not the answer - a cosy chat might be.

Sorry if this appears brutal.

Cheers

DVardysShadow

Marple wrote: »

... there are 2 points in the kitchen and a bedroom where the electrical wiring chased into the wall has not been covered with plaster. It looks as if hardboard has been used to cover and then they have wallpapered over. Is this safe?

If the wiring underneath still has its grey sheath, it is OK, although shoddy. If the sheaths are removed and you have wires rather than cables, it ain't right. Sheaths should only be removed within switchgear and earthed metal conduit or boxes.

AdmiralX

Marple wrote: »

Is it worth contacting council building regs department? This was pointed out to an environmental health officer visit who didn't seem interested.

Probably not good idea... but there are other solutions.. like a circuit breaker to protect you. I ve got one of these.

Env Health looks for statutory nuisance and do v well in some bad breaking of building Law and EPA. They are overloaded.. Building Control, also look at serious breaches of Laws, for example, if you had a leaning chimney and wind was blowing or there was a breaking antena. call' em and they will arrive in 30 minutes.[/QUOTE]

keystone wrote: »

If your relationship with him is such that you distrust him that much to go running to the council (which won't endear you to him for one second) then perhaps you had better start looking for somewhere else to rent. EHO won't be interested because its not their concern.

Confrontation is not the answer - a cosy chat might be.

Cheers

Sure this answer makes sense to me. However, "this is your family and your safety and it is "you", responsible "to think about it", and if I were you i would try to call some electrician to tell me if the thing is done safely. May be best tt pay up the advice for your safety. If the thing is not safe get out without nagging because confrontation and argument just wastes your time. Landlords do not like confrontation. :cool:

We have never been a letting landlords.